usually i train half an hour to an hour and a half a day at night i don’t train much more due to school.
i do this about 5 days a week but usually 7 whenever i can.
my question is if i don’t train for a day is that bad? or will i stay at the same level i was a few days before?
thanks.
I believe that one should practice everyday. By practicing the same basic movements everyday, the movements should eventually become natural for the body. At the very least, this part of training should be done. It would also be handy to do partner training everyday - but I know well from experience that this is not generally possible.
Missing a day here or there probably won’t hold you back much.
Taiji is ultimately about balance and that balance should extend through life. Taijiquan is not the only facet of life and other activities (including simply rest) need to be included.
Balance is a tricky thing…
I train the form and QiGong once a day as the norm, but additional training I do if I feel like it (so probs 40 minutes to an hour a day). I miss a day now and then if I don’t feel up to it, I stopped beating myself up about it.
There’s no ‘correct level’ of training - do what you feel able to and don’t turn it into a chore or you’ll eventually burn out and start resenting it. I went through a bleak period last year in the summer when I was forcing myself to train and eventually I ended up completely arsed off with it.
Re: how often should you train?
Originally posted by Zhiu
usually i train half an hour to an hour and a half a day at night i don’t train much more due to school.
i do this about 5 days a week but usually 7 whenever i can.
my question is if i don’t train for a day is that bad? or will i stay at the same level i was a few days before?
thanks.
Train all the time. Train when your not training. Train while you are sleeping. Train while you are walking down the street. Don’t guilt yourself about skipping your exercise regiment, that’s what a teacher is for.
It depends on what you’re training for.
I myself am a professional sifu who teaches kung fu for a living. I don’t practice much outside of class, as I get enough workouts with and against my students.
Every truly great master of any discipline I’ve ever studied (not just kung fu) will tell you that when you’re practicing, PRACTICE.
They’ll also tell you that when you’re NOT practicing, DON’T practice.
everyday.
some days a little, some days a lot, but everyday do something from what you have learned and you will get better at it.
after a time, hey! you’ll be pretty good 
cheers
How much training
Someone said it before me. I can’t remember if it was on this forum or another: have the attitude that your training is an indulgence you look forward to, rather than a chore. With that attitude, you’ll be surprised how much training you actually get done.
Best Regards,
RIck Matz
I knew if I bummed around long enough, someone would ask this question for me. I personally have always subscribed to the “every-day-no-matter-what” philosophy of MA training.
I just started practicing Aikido though, and now I’m starting to wonder about what I should do. I attend class Mon/Tues/Wed/Sat for about an hour or so. I feel that this is an terribly sad state of affairs since I’d rather do six days a week (work conflicts though).
My Sensei just asked me the other day, " Aren’t you sore yet? ". Fact is, my hips and knees had been killing me, so I told Sensei, " Yes, I’m extremly sore Sensei, but I wish to continue. ". Now I’m used to hard work, and a good amount of pain, so I kept to my schedule. I felt proud of myself, and feel like I want to make a good impression with my new Sensei.
So here’s my problem: on Saturday, as I was warming up I noticed my abdomen, right around my Tan Den (center) was pretty sore. I kept working out though, and by the end of class I felt like I had an ice cold knife jammed right below my belly button.
The sensation only just this evening (Sun. night) has begun to let up. I’m using ibuprofen and massaging Dit Da Jow into the spot. I have this preverse idea that training through the pain will be a sort of baptismal trial by fire.
So the question is, do I go to class on Monday night and work through the pain, commited to make it through the the next three classes before taking two days off no matter what? Or, do I swallow my pride and sense of obligation and give my body time to recover?
I believe my body will recover no matter what, and that the small strain I’m going through will pass whether or not I give up. It’s just that it’ll take longer to heal if I keep practicing, and I run the risk of increased pain/possible injury.
What do you guys think?
Samurai Jack.
I would take it easy.
That doesn’t mean no training, do your basics,stances, footwork and similar.
First of all I don’t like to put many chemicals into my body, hence I don’t train so hard that I need them.
Secondly, if you train that hard what happens if you need your skills to defend yourself but got an Injury from training too hard?
Your training should keep you in a shape in which you can use your skills at any time without any notice given.
If that is not so you are wasting your time & effort.
Just my opinion.
HuangkaiVun,
You said that in your post you are a “professional sifu.” I do not mean to start trouble or offend you but perhaps you meant that you teach kung fu so you should practice more?
I just don’t agree when people say that they themselves are a professional sifu. That makes it seem like you got “it” and your skill is at a pro level. Heck, I never liked it when people say, “Well you see, I’m a sifu” as if they accomplished something. Having something of substance to teach and being a sifu are different things IMHO.
Just some thoughts, not meant to stir up trouble. I think it would have sounded a lot better if you just said that you teach martial arts therefore your workout consists of… etc etc.
Greetings..
Without sounding trite, i suggest that we train continuously.. in the kwoon and out.. How we walk, how we sit, how we think, how we perceive, how we “live”.. these are all areas we can refine in our day to day lives, refine with the principles of our chosen Art.. When i need to pick something up off the floor i try to use correct leg work to keep refining the knee/quad interaction.. when i need to look over my shoulder i twist my waist keeping the hips centered.. i try to expand the range of my periphial vision, noticing detail at the limits .. I try to bringTai Chi into my everyday life, it seems to work for me..
But, formal training is the topic.. i teach regular classes five days a week and private lessons usually round out the other two.. but that doesn’t satisfy my own need for refinement, i still need to train myself.. so twice a day, i practice for at least 45 minutes paying attention to the details and studying the body, mind, spirit connection.. not to mention i seek good seminars and other such opportunities..
Be well..
I try to train once a day, but at the moment I can only practice basic movements as Im restricted to my basement room (too cold and wet to train outside)
During the warmer months I try and do about 45 mins a day at least. Though I cant say I’ve gotten this routine going for too long, im relatively new to the MA’s.
-greg
You need to read Ryu’s old (months and months ago) post on his martial art Icon. Totally forgot his name tho lol. Training time = skill. If you want to be good… train a few times a week. If you want to be an expert you will train every day. If you want to be among the best, it must occupy your mind every waking minute…
Yea I definately agree with that…
just saying that outload makes me want to train now actually
They’ll also tell you that when you’re NOT practicing, DON’T practice.
I’m curious, what do you mean by that?
As for me, I would practice every day, for as long as I could fit in (usually about an hour, if not longer). I’m temporarily living in Niagara Falls though (no decent Kung Fu/Tai Chi instructors around here), so for some dumb reason I stopped training in my forms (I just hit the gym). I wish I kept up with practicing my forms. It’s been a year and a half and I can’t even remember the simplified yang 24 form. When I move back for good this summer, I plan to train at least an hour (if not 2) a day during the week and more on the weekends.
Originally posted by StarBoy
[B]
“They’ll also tell you that when you’re NOT practicing, DON’T practice.”
I’m curious, what do you mean by that?
[/B]
What it bassically means when you train you do it with 100% intent, anything less is a waste of your time.
In short best is set a time aside for training and do it full intent and you will benefit more from 1hr than from 2~3hrs a day with half-hearted intent.
If you don’t train with full intent you will develop bad habits.
Personaly, I don’t train much form at home, too little space.
But rather work on the basics and concentrate on one or two movements a day and try to do them correct by applying all the principles and things pointed out by my Sifu.
I found I benefit the most from 1hr training after waking up in the morning, rather than trying to do 2hrs at night.
That said you should still try to apply the principles to everyday life and body movement.
Just my Opinion naturally.
TaiChiBob–GREAT POST!
One of the things my sifu stresses is to practice “mindfully”. In other words, it’s the quality of your practice that counts, not the quantity. You can practice every day and not improve if you’re not practicing mindfully, ie. with proper concentration and dedication.
Larry
www.northernwu.com
I think we misunderstand each other, cha kuen.
I’m a “professional sifu” in that students pay me money and I run a business teaching them kung fu.
It’s your preconceived notion that “professional” makes you “it” and that somebody who is designated as such is at a “pro” level. I’m simply stating the FACTS, which means that kung fu is my day (more like night) job. That’s how the IRS and city government see me.
How good I am as a teacher depends on the observer. But even if I were the worst instructor on the planet, that wouldn’t change the fact that the IRS would come after me if I didn’t pay taxes on my “profession”, which is teaching kung fu.
You might not think I’m a “professional”, but the government sure does. And it’s to Uncle Sam I answer.
I sent two guys home yesterday.
These two carry huge responsibilities in life, and yet they’re both the kind of student who comes to every class and tries to stay as long as possible. Because we were doing kung fu for relaxation yesterday, they were yawning uncontrollably in class. I didn’t hold it against them but actually applauded them for doing the kung fu correctly.
I ordered them both home to REST, which they needed more than the training last night.
Say Huang,
Do you actually put “Professional Sifu” on your 1040 filing?
Yawning out of boredom? I didn’t know yawning was a legitimate breathing method of kung fu. :rolleyes: :eek: 